Convertible vehicle structure



Aug. 23, 1938.

LE GRAND s WHEDON CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE STRUCTURE Filed July 2'7, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet l v uwgpwdn 59v Jmmmmwhedom ATTO NEYS Aug. 23, 1938. LEGRAND s. WHEDON 2,127,795

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE STRUCTURE Filed July 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm amPatented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIEE Claims.

This invention relates to convertible seat and bed structure and it hasparticular relation to a bed or couch arrangement adapted to beconverted into front and rear seats for a vehicle.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved combination ofcouch sections which are suitable to serve as comfortable sleepingquarters and, at the same time, are movable into various relativelyadjusted positions for comfortable seating of vehicle passengers invarious positions in or outside the normal plane of the couch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a couch structure havingfront and rear sections adjustable to provide a substantially levelcouch, and such front and rear sections being convertible into frontseat bottom and back structure adjustable as a unit as well as beingadjustable relative to rear sections which are convertible into orconstitute rear seat bottom and back structure.

The features of the invention are adapted to be incorporated in any typeof vehicle in which front and rear seats are ordinarily provided. Thefront sections of the couch that are adapted to be converted into orserve as seat back and bottom structure are mounted upon adjustingarrangement which provides for locking these sections of various levels,and, at the same time, provides for forward and rearward adjustment ofthe section while disposed at any of the levels referred to.. Additionalprovision is made for tilting the front sections so as to insure properinclination of the portion which serves as a seat bottom. When used as apart of a bed or couch, this section is substantially horizontal andwhen it is used as a seat bottom its upper surface is so positioned asto be inclined rearwardly from its front, Two independently pivotableand adjustable front seat-back portions are provided.

The rear portion of the couch structure has a section in the form of aseat bottom carried in movable relation and with properly supportedswinging arms to provide for changing the inclination of the uppersurface of this seat bottom, which is movable to various positionsforwardly and rearwardly.

In assembling the parts of the couch structure, the rear section or seatbottom is actuated rearwardly, and the front section is moved to properlevel with respect thereto. Then the front portions which constitute theseat-back sections are pivoted rearwardly to horizontal position andrest upon supports in the form of pivotal members connected to the floorof the vehicle. The

front structure, including the seat bottom and back sections are thenmoved horizontally to abut closely the front edge of the rear section.

A seat cushion installed on the front seat bottom is removable and isadapted to be positioned in abutting relation against the front edge ofthe 5 horizontally disposed seat-back, or this cushion can remain in itsoriginal position upon the seat bottom for making the bed longer. Theadjustable features of the arrangement are very simple in operation andthe couch can be converted into front and rear seating structure withonly slight delay, or conversely, when the structure is arranged forseating purposes, it can be coni verted into a couch within a fewmoments.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a convertible couch and seating structureas applied to a vehicle, and including the principal features of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the convertible couch and seat structure shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of suspension mechanism for supporting the rearportion of a seat structure;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of a seat latching and guidingdevices; '25

Fig. 5 is a side view partially in elevation. and partially in sectionillustrating features of the invention incorporated in front seatingstructure of a vehicle;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, on a'30 larger scale, of alocking mechanism included in the invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross section, on a larger scale, taken substantially alongthe line VIIVII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a cross section, on a larger scale, taken substantially alongthe line VIII-VIII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective of a slide member for guiding movement of aportion of seat structure; and 4.0

Fig. 10 is a plan of seat back adjusting and locking mechanism.

In practicing the invention according to one embodiment thereof, a couchor bed It is installed in a vehicle l2, and includes front seat sectionsl3 and I4 constituting a front seat bottom andseat back unit, which isarranged for coordination with rear seat sections l5 and I6 constitutinga rear seat back and seat bottom unit. It will be noted the frontseat-back structure is divided into two sections M (Fig. 2).

Adjacent each side of the couch, a support I! f in the vehicle floor l8pivotally supports, as indicated at IS, an upwardly opening lowerchannel frame member 20 that has a rear downwardly projecting extension2| resting normally upon the floor of the vehicle. The sections 13 and Mcan be tilted as a unit about the pivotal connections l9.

Front links 25 and rear links 26 of channel form disposed at oppositesides of the front seat bottom l3 have pivotal connections 21, such asbolts or pins, securing them to the lower channel members 20, and haveupper pivotal connections 28 securing them between the sides ofdownwardly opening channel members 30. A rigid brace 32 rigidlyconnecting the rear links 26 has its opposite end portions extendingthrough adjacent channel sides of opposite links 26 and is rigidlysecured to each of these links. The brace is rigidly secured to thelinks by means of welding or the like.

One end of a tension spring 33 is provided with an end connection 35 inthe form of an ear rigidly formed upon the transverse brace 32 adjacenteach end of the latter, and the other end of this spring is connected toa front portion of the adjacent lower channel member 20 by means of oneof the pins 21. The spring 33 is normally under tension and resistsmovement of the links from a substantially upright position toward ahorizontal position; that is, the springs constantly urge the linkstoward an upright position.

One side of each of the upper and lower channel members 20, 30 isprovided with a recess 31 into which the transverse brace 32 partiallyenters to permit unobstructed movement of the links within their normallimits of operation.

Sliding channel members 40 at opposite sides of the seat bottom [3 opendownwardly and 'partially embrace the sides of the channel members 30.Portions of the sides of the channel members are cut away or narrowed,as indicated at 42, to provide for free sliding action of the channelmembers 40 upon the channel members 30 within predetermined limits, andto provide stops 43, which are adapted to engage in abutting relationthe upper pivotal connections 28 for limiting movement of each channelmember 40 upon the channel member 30. Also, portions of the slidingchannel members 46 are provided with inwardly turned flanges 44 whichunderlap the lower edges of the channel members 30 to prevent separationof these members 30 and 40. However, there is sufiicient channel sidefor slidable engagement from end to end of each sliding channel memberwith the vertical sides of the channel members 30.

An adjusting link 46 is pivotally secured at its lower end by means ofone of the pivotal connections 21 that carries one of the rear links 26upon the lower supporting channel member 20 at each side of the seatbottom l3, and the upper end of the adjusting link 46 is secured bymeans of a pivot pin 41 (Fig. 8) in a downwardly opening adjustingchannel slide 50 which is slidably guided longitudinally in the upperchannel member 30 between the pivotal connections 28, and is maintainedagainst downward displacement by means of inwardly turned flanges 52formed upon the lower side portions of the channel member 30. Theseflanges 52 are similar in structure and function to the flanges 44.

An inner channel member side 55 contiguous with a side 56 of the channelslide 40 has a notch or slot 60 (Fig. 5) cut therein through its loweredge, and the adjusting slide 56 has a series of notches or slots 62formed in one of its depending sides 63. Any one of the notches 62 isregisterab'le with the notch 60, depending upon the position of theadjusting slide 50 in each channel member 30.

A locking device 65 is provided for each channel member 40 and for thelocking slide 50, and includes an actuating lever 66 forming a rigidextension of a horizontal shaft section 61. The latter section extendsbetween the two channel members 36 and is rotatably mounted transverselythereof in the downwardly extending sides of these channel members.

A lug 10 extending rigidly and radially from the shaft section 61adjacent each channel member 36, is disposed between a pair of lugs 12and 13 formed rigidly upon inner end portions of latches 15 and 16,respectively, that are rotatably mounted upon the horizontal shaftsection 61 between the inner side of the channel member 30 and the lug10. End portions 11 and I8 of the latches adjacent the lugs 12 and 13,respectively, are spaced on opposite sides of the group of lugs Ill, 12and I3, and it should be understood that all of these lugs and endportions extend outwardly from the axis of the horizontal shaft portionEl. Opposite end portions of a tension spring 86 are secured, asindicated at 82 and 83, to the latch end portions 11 and 18,respectively, and this spring which is normally under tension,constantly tends to pivot the latches in opposite directions, or, asviewed in Figs. 5 and 6, the

outer ends of the latches are constantly urged upwardly.

An angular finger 85 formed rigidly upon the outer end of the latch 15is movable into or out of the notch 60 and into a registering notch 62of the adjusting slide 50 to lock the latter in various v positions inthe channel member 30, whereby the links 25, 26, together with thechannel members 30 can be locked in various positions between the fullline position and broken line position of the structure shown in Fig, 1.By rocking the lever 66 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 5, the lug 70 engages the lug T2 and pivots the latch 15 towithdraw the finger 85 from the notches 60, 62. Upon releasing the lever66 the spring forces the latch 15 in the opposite direction into lockingrelation with the notches, 60, 62.

The outer end of the other latch 16 is provided with a locking finger 86which is disposed in a notch or slot 81 formed in the inner side of eachchannel member 30 and is movable therein to engage in any of a series ofnotches 88 formed in the lower edge of the depending side 56 of eachdownwardly opening sliding channel member 40 which partially embracesthe upper channel 30 adjacent the side of the seat structure.

By rocking the lever 66 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) the lug 10strikes the lug 13 and pivots the latch 16 to withdraw the finger 86from the registering notches 81 and 88. As soon as the lever 66 isreleased the spring 80 pivots the latch into engaging relation withthese notches. Each latch 15, I6 is independently pivotable. As the lug10 moves the lug 12 to pivot the latch 15, the lug 73 remainsstationary, and the tension of the spring 80 is increased to urge thefinger 86 more firmly into its locking relation. In the same manner, thelug 12 remains stationary while the lug 1B actuates the lug 13.

It should be understood that the portions of the downwardly extendingsides of the channel members 46 in which the notches 88 are formed havetheir lower edges terminating short of, or substantially coincidentalwith, the upper ends of the notches 60 and 62, in order that there canbe no possibility of the finger 85 accidentally engaging in any of thenotches 88.

The upper opposite end portions of the sliding channel members 40 areprovided with outwardly stamped recessed bosses 90 through whichfastening devices 92, such as screws or bolts, are rigidly secured to .aframe 93 of the seat bottom section I3 to complete the assembly of thechannel members in the front seat installation.

Each of the lower channel members 20 is provided adjacent its rear endwith a pivotal foot 95 having a pivotal connection 96 securing it to therigid angular extension 2| of each channel member 20 and is adjustableto the position shown in full lines of Fig. 1, that is, to an uprightposition, for the purpose of providing a support for the channelmembers, and seat construction carried thereon, in tilted position. Thisarrangement is designed for the purpose of leveling the seat bottom I3for converting it into a part of a couch.

Each seat back section I4 of the double front seat-back structure isprovided with substantially parallel side frame members I00 that arepivotally connected adjacent their inner or lower ends by means of atransverse brace I03, and these frame members are rigidly anchored inthe structure of each front seat-back section I4. The outer end portionof each brace I03 is rigidly connected to one end of an arm I05, theother end of which is provided with a pivotal connection I06 securing itto a bracket I01 that is rigidly mounted upon the seat bottom frame 93at a location intermediate the front and rear extremities of theseat-bottom.

One end of one or more coil springs IIO normally under tension, isconnected, as indicated at II2, to the upper portion of at least one ofthe frame members I00 of each seat back section I4, and the other springend is connected, as indicated at I I3, to an arm II5 rigidly carriedupon the transverse brace I03. An adjusting link H6 is pivoted, asindicated at II1, to one of the frame members I00 at each side of theseat structure, and the other end portion of the link is provided withan angular finger I20 which is slidably disposed in a slot I22 formedlongitudinally in the arm I05. A series of notches I25, I26 and I21formed in the lower edge portion of a locking lever I30 are selectivelyengageable with the finger I20, and an end portion of the lever I30 ispivoted to the arm I05 adjacent the outer sides of the seat backsections I4, by means of suitable pivotal connections I3I that isdisposed adjacent the brace I03. Thus rearward pivotal movement of eachback I4 increases tension on the spring IIO.

An outer end portion of the adjusting lever I 30 is provided with anangular extension to form an operating handle or finger piece I32 thatis accessible at the side of the seat bottom section I4 on each side ofthe latter. An additional notch I33 formed in the adjusting lever I30 isspaced rearwardly from the series of notches I25, I26 and I21, but notbeyond the end of the slot I22, and is adapted to be engaged in lockingrelation by the finger I20 of the locking link I I6. A coil spring I35(Figs. 5 and has one end portion connected, as-indicated at I36, to anouter end portion of the lever I30, that is, the end of the latterremote from its pivotal connection I3I, and the other end of the springis connected, as indicated at I31, to a relatively stationary portion ofthe seat bottom frame I4.

From this description it will be apparent that each seat back section I4is pivotable about the connections I06 while the link H6 maintains theframe members I00 and the arms I05 in rigid relation. Thus the backsections I4 can be moved forwardly about the pivots I06 to facilitateentry of passengers to the rear seats of the vehicle. In addition tothis advantage, the adjusting finger I of the link H6 can be engagedwith any of the notches I25, I26 or I21 after the lever I has beenpivoted upwardly against the tensional resistance of the spring I andthe seat back sections I4 can then be adjusted in tilting relationbackwardly or forwardly about the axis of the rod I03 as each arm I05lies upon the rear upper surface of the frame 93. This action providesfor materially varying the effective depth of the seating structure.

It is to be understood that the lower portions of the seat back sectionsI4 normally rest upon the seat bottom frame although the actualconnection to this frame is provided by the front pivotal connectionsI06 of the arms I05 adjacent the intermediate portion of the seatbottom.

When it is desired to move the finger I20 from one of the notches I 25,I26 or I21 to the rearmost notch I33, the lever I30 must be pivotedupwardly sufficient distance to insure clearance of an offset corner I30from the path of the finger in the slot I22, and the tensional extensionof the spring I35 to release the finger I20 from Y one of these notchesover the corner I38 is greater than the spring extension required torelease the finger I20 for rearward movement from the front notch I25 toan adjacent notch I26 or I21. This condition obtains because of theposition of the projecting corner I38 and, to a certain extent, to thedifference in length of radii drawn from the pivotal connection I 3I tothe notch I21 and to the front notch I25, respectively. Hence, when thefinger I20 is disposed in the notch I21, the operator is apprised ofthis fact upon actuating the lever T30 because the latter must pivotthrough a greater angle, and since the spring must be extended a greaterdegree to provide clearance for the corner I38 it offers more resistancethan that required in actuating the lever to release the finger from thefront notch I25.

When it is desired to adjust the seat back sections I4 to the positionshown in full lines of Fig. 1, the lever I30 is pivoted upwardly torelease the locking finger I20 and the seat back section I4 is movedrearwardly until the finger I20 engages the notch I33 and is lockedtherein. Before actuating the seat back sections to this position,

frame-like supports I40 are pivoted to an upright position about theirpivotal connections I42 that secure them to the floor I8 of the vehicle.These supports I40 can be obscured under conventional floor mat or matswhich can be folded back when it is desired to use the supports in theirupright position.

After the seat back sections I 4 have been moved to substantiallyhorizontal position as shown in the full lines of Fig. 1, the front seatbottom section I3 can be shifted rearwardly until the rear edge thereofabuts the front edge of the seat back section I 4. This adjustment(Figs. 1 and 5) is effected by means of openings I43 formed in the frame93 and in which downwardly extending lugs or projections I45 areselectively engageable to hold the seat bottom against accidentalforward or rearward displacement. If longer substantiallyhorizontalextent is desired for the combined sections I3 and I4, the projectionsI45 are disposed in the front openings I43, (Fig. 5) and remains sopositioned after the seat back sections have been moved to theirsubstantially horizontal position.

The upper portion of the rear seat back sec tion is provided withpivotal supports I50 carried in the vehicle frame structure at the rearof the vehicle. Substantially horizontally disposed links I52 have endportions pivotally secured, as indicated at I53, to opposite sides ofthe seat back section, and the other end portions of these links (Figs.1 and 3) are pivotally secured, as indicated at I55, to upwardlyextending stirrups I56 that are rigidly secured at their lower ends tothe rear of the seat bottom section I5. Upper ends of the stirrups I56are provided with pivotal connections I58 securing them to the upperends of arms I60 which are rigid with opposite ends of a transverserocker shaft I62. The arms I60 and shaft I62 constitute a substantiallyinherently rigid U-shaped structure. Opposite end portions of thetransverse rocker shaft I62 are mounted in bearings I63 carried rigidlyupon the frame structure of the vehicle.

Rollers I65 which are rotatably supported upon the floor of the vehicleadjacent the front portions of the seat-bottom section I 5 provide forforward .and rearward guiding of the seat bottom section.

If desired. seat supporting rails I66 secured to the bottom of the seatbottom I5 can be formed with a V-shaped lower surface I67 and therollers I65 can be so formed as present a surface I68 corresponding tothe V-shaped rail for operation thereon. This arrangement preventslateral shifting of the front portion of the seat bottom section.

In order to maintain the seat bottom and back sections I5 and I6 invarious positions of relative adjustment, a rack bar I69 of angle formis rigidly secured to the lower portion of the seat bottom section and alatch I70 having one end movable into engagement with rack teeth I72 ofthe bar is pivoted, as indicated at I73, intermediate its ends upon abracket I95 that is bolted to the vehicle frame. An upright rod I96,pivotally connected to the outer end of the latch I70, extends through aguide I97 that is rigidly secured to the vehicle frame, and a coilcompression spring I98 surrounds the rod I96. One end of the coil springis secured, as indicated at I99, to the rod I96, and its other or upperend extends toward, for contact with, an upper offset portion 200 of theguide.

In order to move the inner end of the latch I 70 into and out ofengagement with the rack bar I69, a handle or finger piece 202 on theupper end of the rod I96 is manipulated in the proper direction; thatis, it is drawn upwardly. On the other hand, the compression springnormally maintains the latch in engagement with a rack bar by urging itin a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, about the pivotalconnection I73.

When it is desired to convert the structure described from seatarrangements into couch arrangement, the front seating unit I3-I4 andthe rear seating unit I 5I6, which clearly constitute front and rearsectional structures, or can as truly be referred to as two sections,one at the front and one at the rear are adjusted in such manner as toprovide a substantially continuous and horizontal upper couch surface.In adjusting the parts, the members 202, I70 are actuated to release therear seating unit for movement on the arms I60 and rollers I65. Innormal seating position, the upper surface of rear seat bottom I5 isinclined upwardly from its back, as indicated in broken lines of Fig. 1.Vehicle seats are positioned in conventional practice in such manner asto have upwardly and forwardly inclined seating surfaces. However, inadjusting the rear unit I5-I6 to the full line position of Fig. 1, theseat bottom I5 assumes such position as to present a substantiallyhorizontal upper surface and is also moved rearwardly a considerabledistance which provides for increased couch length.

After the rear unit I5I6 has been adjusted as' described, the front unitI3I4 is first pivoted about the pivotal connection I9 and. the extensionor foot 95 is placed in an upright position as shown in the full linesof Fig. 1. This manipulation is for the purpose of altering theinclination of the unit I3I4 or leveling the upper surface of the seatbottom I3, which normally under passenger seating and driving conditionsis inclined upwardly and forwardly from its rear portion.

By operating the lever I30 to release the seat back section I4, thelatter can be pivoted rearwardly to the position shown in full lines ofFig. 1, In this position, the supports I40 will have been moved toraised or upright position to carry the outer end portion of eachsection I4. The length of each support I40 is such that the outer end ofeach section I4 resting thereon is horizontally disposed and issubstantially evenly level with the front portion of the rear seatbottom I5 after the latter has been adjusted to substantially horizontalposition. The leveling and elevation of the seat bottom I3 can also beadditionally refined by adjustment of the link arms 25, 26 in connectionwith the adjusting device 65 in the manner described previously. members40 and 93 are relatively slidable and selectively adjustable bymanipulation of the device 65, the outer end of the seat back I4 of thefront unit can be abutted directly and closely against the front end ofthe rear seat bottom I5.

In order that the seat bottom I3 may be abutted against the front edgeof the seat back I4 while the latter is horizontal, proper adjustmentcan be achieved by lifting the seat bottom I3 and anchoring theprojections I45 thereon in the proper openings I43 of the seat bottomframe. In combining these various features of adjustment, asubstantially unbroken horizontal closely fitting relationship isestablished among the upper surfaces of the sections I3, I4 and I5. Onthe other hand, when the parts described are converted into passengerseating relation, they asslime positions bestadapted for riding comfortof the passengers carried thereby.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the arrangementof the structure is such that the most satisfactory couch installationcan be effected without in anywise interfering with the efliciency andproper positioning of the seating elements when the structure is usedfor seating purposes. The several seating parts need not be speciallydesigned or positioned in order to be adjusted to fit in proper couchforming association bcause the several adjustments serve for suchmovements as to bring all of the parts into their proper relation eitheras a seat or couch installation with minimum inconvenience. Theinstallation can be converted into either of the forms described at amoments notice and while the operator is seated in the vehicle.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described indetail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention is not so limited, but that various Since the channel 1changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body, a convertible bed structure including two unitsadapted to be converted into seats, members connected to one unit andsupporting the latter in said body for forward and rearward movementtherein, means carried in the vehicle body and having connections to theother unit for bodily altering the elevation of the latter unit,mechanism connected to said other unit for guiding the lattersubstantially horizontally upon said means toward and away from said oneunit independently of the elevating action, said other unit having anormally upright portion pivotable thereon and provided with means foradjusting the upright portion to a substantially horizontal position,whereby said units can be abutted against each other and levelled alonga substantially common horizontal plane.

2. In a vehicle body, a convertible bed structure including two unitsadapted to be converted into seats, members connected to one unit andsupporting the latter in said body for forward and rearward movementtherein, means carried in the vehicle body and having connections to theother unit for bodily altering the elevation of the latter unit,mechanism connected to said means'and to said other unit for guiding thelatter substantially horizontally upon said means toward and away fromsaid one unit independently of the elevating action, said other unithaving a normally upright portion pivotable thereon and provided withmeans for adjusting the upright portion to a substantially horizontalposition, whereby said units can be abutted against each other andleveled along a substantially common horizontal plane, and devicesconnected to said means and supported in the vehicle for altering theinclination of said other unit.

3. In a vehicle body, a convertible bed structure including two unitsadapted to be converted into seats, members connected to one unit andsupporting the latter in said body for forward and rearward movementtherein, means carried in the vehicle body and having connections to theother unit for bodily altering the elevation of the latter unit,mechanism connected to said means and to said other unit for guiding thelatter substantially horizontally upon said means toward and away fromsaid one unit independently of the elevating action, said other unithaving a plurality of normally upright portions and having means forindependently adjusting the upright portions to a substantiallyhorizontal position, whereby said units can be abutted against eachother and levelled along a substantially common horizontal plane.

4. In a vehicle body, a convertible bed structure including two unitsadapted to be converted into seats, members connected to one unit andsupporting the latter in said body for forward and rearward movementtherein, means carried in the vehicle body and having connections to theother unit for bodily altering the elevation of the latter unit,mechanism connected to said means and to said other unit for guiding thelatter substantially horizontally upon said means toward and away fromsaid one unit independently of the elevating action, said other unithaving a normally upright portion pivotable thereon and provided withmeans for adjusting the upright portion to a substantially horizontalposition, whereby said units can be abutted against each other andlevelled along a substantially common horizontal plane, said second unithaving a removable cushion and having means for selectively anchoringthe cushion in abutting and non-abutting relation to said portion.

5. In a vehicle body, a convertible passenger carrying structureincluding two units adapted to be converted selectively into a bed orseats, each unit including a seat bottom normally inclined upwardly andforwardly from their rear edges, members connecting one unit to saidbody and movable to carry said one unit from a position of inclinationof its seat bottom to a position levelling the latter seat bottom, meanscarried in the vehicle body and having connections to the other unit forbodily altering the elevation of the latter unit, mechanism connected tosaid means and to said other unit for guiding the latter upon said meanstoward and away guiding the latter substantially horizontally upon saidmeans toward and away from said one unit independently of the elevatingaction, said other unit having a normally upright portion pivotablethereon and provided with means for adjusting the upright portion to asubstantially horizontal position, whereby said units can be abuttedagainst each other and levelled along a substantially horizontal plane,and members supported by said body and connected to said means to adjustthe seat bottom of said other unit from an inclined position to asubstantially horizontal position.

LE GRAND S. WHEDON.

